Punjab cracks down on tobacco tax evasion, unaccounted goods worth Rs 1.5 crore detected
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 27, 2026:Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday announced a major enforcement drive against tobacco tax evasion across the state, resulting in the detection of unaccounted goods estimated at ₹1.5 crore.
According to the minister, the crackdown was launched following intelligence inputs indicating a rise in tax evasion after recent hikes in tobacco taxes. Acting on these inputs, teams from State Investigation and Preventive Units (SIPUs) conducted simultaneous raids at eight locations, including registered businesses and unregistered premises, across cities like Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, and Jalandhar.
Significant recoveries were reported from Ludhiana and Amritsar, where officials uncovered concealed stocks stored without valid invoices in shops and godowns. The seized items included large quantities of cigarettes, biris, zarda, imported tobacco products, hookah material, and related goods.
The minister said the department has assessed a tax liability of over ₹50 lakh on the seized goods, along with penalties as per law. So far, ₹12 lakh has already been recovered, and further proceedings are underway.
Reiterating the government’s strict stance, Cheema said the Punjab Government will continue such coordinated actions to ensure compliance and protect state revenue. He also warned traders to maintain proper documentation and adhere to tax laws to avoid stringent penalties.